GB2051190A

GB2051190A - Device for laying road material

Info

Publication number: GB2051190A
Application number: GB8013822A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-05-04
Filing date: 1980-04-25
Publication date: 1981-01-14
Also published as: FR2455653A1; NO801106L; US4329081A; SE7903901L; ES491128A0; DK193280A; ES8101167A1; IT1150987B; BE883090A; SE417117B; IT8021782A0; FI801407A; NL8002326A; DE3017159A1

Description

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GB 2 051 190 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Device for Laying Road Material

The present invention relates to a towable device for laying road material, for example 5 asphalt, gravel and oil mat road surface. The invention also relates to the combination of the laying device connected to a towing vehicle provided with lifting arms, such as a scraper-loader vehicle.

10 Conventional devices for laying asphalt and other road materials are generally very large machines with a high capacity. These are well-suited for laying road material in connection with large-scale highway construction and 15 maintenance and/or urban roadworks, but naturally cannot be used for lesser work such as laying paths in parks and gardens, or garage drives, or work in similar restricted access area%. In this case, manual laying with shovels and rakes 20 has been the practice although the work is extremely arduous and causes fatigue, particularly of the back, through the combination of unsuitable working positions and heavy lifting.

Attempts have long been made to solve this 25 problem by various constructions of surface laying devices adapted to be towed behind a towing vehicle. An early construction is, for example, shown in U.S. Patent Specification 1,401,149 published in 1921, and similar constructions are 30 described in U.S. Patent Specifications Nos.

1,767,243 and 1,861,925. It is common to these constructions that the device is towed behind a vehicle with a large load capacity, for example a lorry which gradually tips the material into the 35 laying device. Such an apparatus is however difficult to manoeuvre, and is therefore suitable only in exceptional cases for the type of precision laying of asphalt and other road material for which the present invention is primarily intended. 40 The previously proposed constructions have not, in practice, constituted a real alternative to hand laying for small and medium scale laying work, and especially not for work which demands precision.

45 The object of the invention is to provide a practical device adapted for laying road material which is particularly suitable for park and garden paths, pavements, garage drives, and similar repair work, in other words for situations which 50 impose demands on the ability of the device to manage sharp turns while laying a broad surface strip, or for laying surfaces close to obstacles.

Accordingly the present invention provides a towable device for laying road material, such 55 device comprising a back wall having a lower edge which determines the upper surface of the layer of material being laid; and a trough-shaped bucket in front of the back wall, said bucket being rotatable in relation to the back wall about a 60 horizontal axis parallel to said back wall, whereby through rotation of the bucket towards the back wall road material in the bucket can be emptied out through a gap between a straight edge of the bucket and said back wall.

65 The bucket preferably comprises gable ends joined by mutually inclined walls on one of which the said straight edge is formed and in order to be able to lay the surface with a uniform width, two partitions are preferably disposed in the bucket 70 between its gable ends and further partitions in the space between the back wall and the said straight edge of the bucket serve as extensions of the partitions in the bucket and are adapted to determine the width of the layer of material which 75 is laid out. In this case, the said further partitions between the back wall and the said straight edge of the bucket may appropriately be concavely arcuate on an arc substantially concentric with the said horizontal axis of rotation of the bucket. 80 A pair of outer walls may be connected to the back wall and disposed outside the gable ends of the bucket, the bucket being connected to said outer walls by a pair of pivot pins. These pins extend each between a respective bucket gable 85 end and a respective said outer wall and coincide with and determine the horizontal axis of rotation of the bucket. The device may appropriately be connected to the towing vehcle by way of a pair of lifting arms by means which also enable the 90 device to be lifted from the ground; in the raised position of the device the bucket is able to act as a transport container during the carrying of road material from a supply location to the laying site.

With such a device it is also possible to carry a 95 certain amount of material from a supply, in which case the device can act as a transport container.

Also, the material being laid can be fed to the ground in a regular manner, and a layer or paving 100 material being laid can be adjusted to the required width and thickness.

The device is, moreover, adapted to be coupled to existing working machines and the device, possibly after the uncoupling of certain parts, can 105 also be used for other purposes in connection with paving work, for example excavating and loading material, or lifting goods.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is 110 given, merely by way of example, of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:—

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention being used to lay a 115 layer of asphalt;

Figure 2 shows the same device in a condition prepared for movement to a fresh location;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the device, that is to say an elevation as viewed from behind the 120 device as it is being advanced in the operating configuration; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV—IV in Figure 3.

The drawings show the device according to the 125 invention—in the form of an asphalt layer 1—and also a towing vehicle in the form of a scraper-loader vehicle 2. The asphalt layer 1 is connected to the towing vehicle 2 by a pair of lifting arms 3 and can be manoeuvred by a pair of manoeuvring

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struts 4 and a coupling link 5. The towing scraper-loader vehicle 2 is in the form of a centre-pivoted tractor. The lifting arms 3 and the manoeuvring struts 4 are manoeuvred hydraulically. The towing 5 vehicle 2 moves backwards during the laying operation, pulling the layer 1 behind it.

The main parts of the device 1 consist of a back wall 6 with outer walls 7 and 8 and a trough-shaped bucket 9 with back and front 10 mutually inclined walls 10 and 11, a bottom 12 and gable ends 13 and 14. The bucket 9 can be rotated, by means of the manoeuvring struts 4 and the coupling links 5, about a horizontal axis of rotation X which is parallel to the back wall 6. The 15 bucket 9 is further connected to the outer gable ends 7 and 8 by means of pivot pins 17 and 18, each disposed in a respective gable end 13,14 (Figure 1 and Figure 4), which pivot pins determine said axis X. The pivot pins 17 and 18 20 are keyed to the outsides of the outer walls 7 and 8. Such a key is designated by 19 in Figure 2.

The back plate 6 comprises a reinforcement 15 and is provided at the bottom with a road-grader blade 16. The device 1 is adapted to be pulled 25 over the ground on a pair of runners 20 and 21. The runners 20 and 21 are connected to a pair of vertical side plates 22 and 23 which can be displaced up and down in relation to the outer walls 7 and 8 in a pair of guides designated 24 in 30 Figure 1. A screw 25 is disposed between the side plate 22 and the outer wall 7 for adjustment in height. In a corresponding manner, a screw is disposed at the opposite side of the device. Extending between the side plates 22 and 23 is a 35 transverse axle 26 mounted in bearing brackets 27 which rest on the runners 20 and 21.

Disposed on the axle 26 are a number of ground-engaging supporting wheels 28 intended to relieve the runners 20 and 21 so that these do not 40 exert too heavy a pressure on the bed, (i.e. the ground), which might lead to the runners digging into the bed.

Disposed in the bucket 9, between the outer walls 7 and 8, is a pair of partitions 30 and 31. 45 These can turn about a pivot 32 or 33

respectively mounted close to the outer walls 7 and 8, substantially at right angles to the back wall 10 of the bucket. Each pin 32 and 33 is protected from shocks by a brace 34 and each 50 partition 30 and 31 is provided in its lower portion with an extension 35 which can be extended to lengthen the wall. Separate adjusting members, which are not shown in the Figures, are provided to adjust the partitions 30 and 31 in 55 various positions.

A tube 36 extends between the outer walls 7 and 8, immediately in front of the upper edge of the back wall 6. Two sleeves 37 and 38 are adapted for displacement on the tube 36 and are 60 adjustable in various positions. The sleeves 37 and 38 each carry a respective vertical further partition 39, 40, between the back wall 6 and the straight back edge 41 of the bucket 9. These further partitions 39 and 40 are alike in shape and 65 comprise a concave front edge 42 which substantially is a circular arc substantially concentric with the axis of rotation X of the bucket, i.e. the arc which is generated by the back straight edge 41 of the bucket when the bucket is rotated about its axis X. In their lower portion, the further partition 39 and 40 each comprise a portion which can be raised and lowered and which is designated by 43 in Figure 4. The means for adjusting the part 43 at various heights is not shown in the drawings.

The device, thus described, is adapted to be operated in the following manner. The desired width of the layer of asphalt or other road material which is to be laid is adjusted by means of the first mentioned partitions 30 and 31 in the bucket 9 and the further partitions 39 and 40 in the space between the back wall 6 and the back straight edge 41 of the bucket. In the course of this, the partitions 30 and 31 are rotated about their respective pivots 32 and 33 and, if necessary, the extensions 35 are also adjusted so that the first mentioned partitions in the bucket may have the desired spacing. Then the further partitions 39 and 40 are displaced in that the sleeves 37 and 38 are displaced along the tube 36 until the,further partitions 39 and 40 are in register with the parts of the first mentioned partitions 30 and 31 of the bucket which project beyond the back straight edge 41 of the bucket, or the extensions of those parts. The further partitions 39 and 40 are fixed in position by means of locking pins which are introduced into holes in the tube 36 provided for the purpose. The desired thickness of the layer which is to be laid is adjusted by means of the screws 25. The lower extensions 43 of the further partitions 39 and 40 may also be adjusted, depending on whether it is desired to lay a layer with a straight edge or, for example, lay a layer which is flush with a layer previously laid or with a kerbstone.

In the transport position of the device, the bucket 9 is caused to adopt the position shown in Figure 2, that is to say with the bottom 12 of the bucket facing downwards, the necessary turning movement being brought about by means of the manoeuvring struts 4 and the coupling links 5. The device 1 is lifted from the ground by means of the lifting arms 3, after which the whole apparatus is displaced to a supply of asphalt or other paving material, or to a transport vehicle which contains a large amount of material of the kind which is to be laid. The bucket 9 is filled with a suitable amount of material, after which the apparatus is displaced to the place where the material is to be laid. The device 1 is lowered towards the ground and the lifting arms 3 are adjusted into the "floating position" if this possibility is provided on the towing vehicle 2. The bucket 9 is turned about its axis X until its material begins to fall down into the space between the back straight edge 41 of the bucket and the back wall 6. The apparatus is now driven backwards, that is to say with the device 1 trailing after the towing vehicle 2. The amount of material which falls down into the space between the back

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straight edge 41 of the bucket and the back wall 6, designated by Y in Figure 4, is evened out by the road-grader blade 16 to an even layer Z with the required width and thickness. The whole time, 5 assurance is provided that there is a certain amount of material Y in front of the back wall 6 and the road-grader blade 16, by adapting the rotational orientation of the bucket 9. When the supply of material in the bucket is depleted, the 10 bucket is rotated back into the horizontal position after which the apparatus again travels to the material supply location for the bucket to be filled with more material, after which the work continues in the manner described above. If an 15 operation has been completed and there is still an amount of unused material in the bucket, this can be conveyed back to and emptied into the supply. If the towing vehicle—the tractor 2—is to be used for other work the back wall 6 and the connected 20 parts are uncoupled by loosening the keys 19, after which the pivot pins 17 and 18 can be removed; (the pivot pins 17 and 18 are for this purpose provided with flanges on the inside of the bucket 9). The first mentioned partitions 30 and 25 31 are dismantled, after which the bucket 9 can be used for such work as excavating, loading, digging and so forth.

It should be clear that the device according to the invention can be used not only for laying road 30 surface material such as asphalt, gravel and oil mat road surface as has been described in detail in the previous section, but that it can also be used to advantage for preparatory work for such work. For example, the device can be used in the 35 assembled state to adjust and level out the bed for the following asphalting or corresponding paving operation. The device according to the invention can thus be used as a universal aid for minor road and/or paving work.

Claims

40 Claims

1. A towable device for laying road material, such device comprising a back wall having a lower edge which determines the upper surface of the layer of material being laid; and a trough-

45 shaped bucket in front of the back wall, said bucket being rotatable in relation to the back wall about a horizontal axis parallel to said back wall, whereby through rotation of the bucket towards the back wall, road material in the bucket can be 50 emptied out through a gap between a straight edge of the bucket and said back wall.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bucket has gable ends joined by mutually inclined walls on one of which walls said straight edge of

55 the bucket is formed; a pair of adjustable partitions disposed in the bucket between its gable ends and further partitions in the space between the said straight edge of the bucket and the back wall, said further partitions defining

60 extensions of the first mentioned partitions in the bucket and being adapted to determine the width of the layer of material to be laid.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first mentioned partitions are adapted to swing

65 about a pivot disposed in the bucket adjacent to each gable end.

4. A device as claimed in either one of the claims 2 and 3, wherein said further partitions between the said back wall and said straight edge

70 of the bucket are adapted to be displaced along the back wall, and each have an edge adjacent to the bucket which edge is concavely arcuate on an arc substantially concentric with the said horizontal axis of rotation of the bucket.

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5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said further partitions are provided in their lower portion with extensions which can be raised and lowered relative to the lower edge of said back wall.

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6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, including a pair of outer walls connected to the said back wall parallel to and outside said gable ends of the bucket, the bucket being connected to said outer walls by a pair of pivot pins, each said

85 pivot pin extending between a respective bucket gable end and a respective outer wall, which pins coincide with and determine the said horizontal axis of rotation of the bucket.

7. A device as claimed in one of the claims 1 to

90 6, when in combination with a towing vehicle,

wherein the device is able to be lifted from the ground by means of arms on the towing vehicle; and wherein in the raised position of the device, the bucket is able to act as a transport container

95 for carrying road material from a supply location to the place where it is laid, said arms being connected to the side of the bucket remote from said back wall, and members being provided on the towing vehicle for rotating the bucket about

100 said horizontal axis in relation to said back wall.

8. A device as claimed in one of the claims 6 and 7, wherein a runner is connected to each said outer wall, and wherein the said outer walls and the back wall are adapted for adjustment so as to

105 be raised and lowered in relation to said runners so as to regulate the thickness of the layer which is being laid.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, including a transverse axle between said runners, said axle

110 being provided with a plurality of ground-

engaging supporting wheels adapted to relieve the runners so as to reduce their pressure on the ground surface.

10. A device for laying road material, such

115 device being constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1981. Published by the Patent Office, 2 5 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.